Installing vinyl flooring properly ensures your floor is more resistant to damage and has a longer life span. A floor that is installed correctly will be smooth with no gaps and have a professional feel. If your floor is installed incorrectly, you could risk future issues with warping and peeling. Here we’ll share our top tips to install vinyl flooring like a pro.
How to prepare for floor installation
Measure the room first, length and width, accounting for any irregularities, doorways or permanent fixtures. Consider storing the flooring in the room for 48 hours so that it can adjust to your room temperature. To prepare the floor make sure it is clean, vacuumed, dry and level, and any old adhesive has been removed.
You will need:
- Vinyl flooring of your chosen design
- Tape measure
- Utility craft knife or vinyl cutter
- Straight edge or ruler
- Carpenter’s square for making 90-degree cuts at edges and corners
- Tapping block to protect the edges of the vinyl while securing the planks
- Pull bar to fit the planks tightly against the walls
- Rubber mallet, which allows for gentle tapping without damaging the vinyl
- Pry bar if you need to remove old flooring or skirting boards
- Spacers so you can maintain a consistent expansion gap around the edges
- Suitable adhesive (if using glue-down vinyl)
- Roller to smooth the floor down afterwards and make sure the glue is distributed evenly
Installation
- Use a craft knife and straight edge to make accurate cuts. Make sure that you measure twice and cut once to minimise any wastage.
- Place spacers to maintain an expansion gap when you lay the first row. Use a tapping block and mallet to ensure a snug fit without damaging the vinyl.
- Consider staggering the seams in a brick-like pattern for added strength and use a pull bar to fit the planks tightly together and avoid gaps.
- Measure and cut accurately around doorways and fixtures. Use a template if necessary for trimming around any complex shapes.
- Finish the edges by removing the spacers and install skirting boards or mouldings to achieve a clean look.
- Roll the floor (if using glue-down vinyl) by applying even pressure with a roller to secure the adhesive bond and ensure a smooth finish.
Our top tips
- Check that your subfloor is even before starting, as an uneven subfloor can cause wear and reduce the predicted lifespan of your vinyl flooring.
- Use spacers consistently as a proper expansion gap will help to prevent any buckling and warping of the floor.
- If you stagger seams, this will strengthen the floor.
- Keep your tools sharp to reduce errors, waste and make sure your cuts are really precise.
- Work in small sections. This makes handling easier, reduces mistakes, and will improve the overall quality of your work.
- Failing to acclimatize the vinyl to your room temperature could result in expansion and contraction issues after installation.
- Make sure you are using a strong, suitable adhesive if needed, as a low quality glue could cause the vinyl to peel over time.
